英语论文,中西方颜色差异

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Different meaning of colours in East and West

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Abstract: There are a lot of words using to discribe colour in both English and Chinese language. It is these color words make the language expression more vivid and full of variety. Although these colour words are approximately same in there conceptual meaning, there are different cultural connotation of the same colour word of the two language .This article points out the different cultural connotation of colour words which borns in different culture environment

through the analysis of serveral common colour words in Chinese and English language and expound the reason of that. In order to improve communicative ability and avoid culture conflict.

Key Words: Colour Words ,Culture Communication, English and Chinese Language.

The so-called color words is the words which express a kind of colour. As colour is a kind of visual effect, humans which have the same physiology mechanism and same optic nerve structure should have the same perception on colour at root .However , the difference on living environment ,psychological factors ,religious belief ,thinking method and cultural background will give the colour words different pragmatic meaning .So that the English and Chinese nationality have the different associative meaning on the same colour ,some of which are even on the contrary .



Comparison of connotation on colour words: 1. Red

Red is the most advocated colour in Chinese culture .It is the colour of sun. The sun brings warm and bright sunshine to all things on the earth and let them grows up. In chinese culture ,red is the symbol of happiness and fortune. Along to the Chinese language, posperous is called“红火”, good luck is called “红运” ,being popular is called “走红”, a beautiful woman is called “红颜”,”红袖” . Red is also the symbol of revalotion in the modern history of China. The early army of the Communist Party is called “The Red Army (红军)”. And a man is both socialist-minded and professionally competent is called “又红又专” . In addition ,red can also stand for Envious and jealous, for instance “眼红” .

But in western culture ,red is the colour of blood .Once somebody lose too much blood ,he will facing death, so that in most cases ,red has the derogatory sence .As the example : “in the red” means loss; “red alert” means emergency alert; ”redtape” means gobbledygook ;and “red battle” means bloody battle .In a few cases, red also have the meaning of joyous, such as “red letter day” which has the same meaning to the word “anniversary” . 2. Yellow

Yellow is the colour of the emperor in ancient China .It is the symbol of nobility lofty and power .For instance “the Yellow Emperor” ,”Yellow Robe” ,”黄




道吉日” means a lucky day .However, yellow also means obscene and degenerative things in modern Chinese culture ,such as “黄色电影”, “扫黄”, and so on .But these meaning don’t exist in English. In western culture ,yellow is the colour of clothes which Judas ,who betrays the Jesus, wears ,so that yellow is the symbol of contemptibility and timidity . For example: “yellow dog” stands for mean person ;“yellow streak” means timidity .Yellow is also a particular colour in some cases ,such as “yellow pages” ,”yellow boy” ,”yellow alert” and so on . 3. White

In the traditional Chinese culture ,white is a basic taboo ,it is the symbol of death ,for example “白” in “红白喜事” means beravement. White also stands for Decayed, reactionary and lag behind such as “白色恐怖” .Then white means failure and stupid because the ones who lose the war would raise a white flag. White also represents sciolist, civilians is called “白丁” in the accient China. Finally, in the moderm Chinese culture, white also have commendatory meaning ,for instance “白领” ,”白衣天使” and so on .

The reason for the different meaning of colour words between English and Chinese culture:

Physiologically speaking, people should have the same perception of colours, but the difference on environment ,histroy and thinking method make us giving the same colour different meanings . 1. Differences on living environment:

China is originated in the Yellow River basin of agricultural civilization, which made the Chinese advocated the yellow ,the colour of earth and the colour of the rice. What’s more, as the sun shine is the source of an agricultural nation ,the colour of the sun ,red ,is given the meaning of joyous and happiness. But the western culture borns in the Aegean sea and the people would be happy to see the blue sky and white cloud . 2. Different in history:

In Chinese history, yellow was the colour which used by the emperor and royal members, it is the symbol of nobility ,while in the western countries this colour is not yellow but purpure because in accient those archon often wear in purpure .

3. Differences on thinking method:

Chinese often associate the things to those seems like. But westerners often use abstract thinking. For example: red is the colour of fire and Chinese give it the meaning of thriving, like the fire rise, while westerners associated red with fire disaster and danger .



In a word ,the difference in meaning of colour shows the different culture psychology and appreciation of the beauty. And only when we understrand these difference can we communicate with a foreigner without a hitch. Reference:

[1] http://d.g.wanfangdata.com.cn/Periodical_kszk201107024.aspx

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